It’s hard to miss the current flap about whether Confederate flags should be used in conjunction with … well, anything.

This debate, of course, stems out of the horrific recent shooting at a South Carolina church where a young, self-avowed white supremacist killed nine African Americans.

In response to this, many voices on each side are either defending the use of the Confederate flag or espousing the view that it should be banned. Retailers like Walmart and Amazon have banned the sale of items which depict the flag (though as some commentators pointed out, Amazon hasn’t yet banned the swastika or Nazi paraphernalia.)

Even General Lee, the iconic car of the Dukes of Hazard has been driven into the culture war. The licensee of the model cars says that future models won’t have the flag. One of the actors connected to the original show came out in full support of the flag.

Whatever becomes of this fascinating public dialogue, it sure has stirred up interesting and necessary debate about race, symbolism, American history, free speech, and pop culture. I find the whole debate interesting and beneficial. This is the process of democracy. People expressing opinions; different points of views being espoused, and both sides of the issue passionately defending what they think is right.

Growing up in Pennsylvania, I have always been completely indifferent to the flag. To me, it was the flag of the losing army of the Civil War. A historical symbol of how life has changed, slavery was put to rest, and America began the long hard process of overcoming the black codes, Jim Crow, segregation, and a host of other injustices.

I can’t exactly say what part the Confederate flag played in that process, but I do know I was surprised when my family first moved to Virginia in 2003. In some ways, if felt like a different world. Confederate flags were prominently displayed on the backs of pick-up trucks. I heard the first negative words spoken about Abraham Lincoln. Really? I couldn’t believe anyone would talk bad about the legend. I mean, he saved America, right? But there it was, deep resentment still occasionally surfaced in casual conversation. The Civil War was a 140 years in the past, but it still lived on in many ways. That shocked this northerner.

The Confederate flag obviously is a powerful symbol still for many southerners. One friend passionately defended it on Facebook as a part of US History. In his view, it is not at all a racist symbol (or at least not any longer.)  Perhaps, but it is impossible to look at the Confederate flag and completely separate it from its history and slavery connection.

It will be interesting to see what becomes of this debate, but I think its a good one. I like the way our democracy allows this debate – without government interference or mandates. The last thing we need is for Congress to get involved and start passing unneeded legislation. Let the people work this out. Let the businesses work this out. If a business doesn’t want to sell Confederate flag merchandise, then good for them. If a person doesn’t want to patronize a store which does, then good for them.

The morality of our democracy stands and falls on the people moving and shaping it through the free speech, public discourse which is so much needed in a democracy.